Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1887-05-26
Live Stock Notes for May
RI1ral New Yorker

minutes.
Live Stock Notes for May
Rural New Yorker.
"All flesh is grass" This is true in
the same sense that grass feeds all the
domestic animals, and that good supply
| of grass is Indispensable to their welfare.
It is especially useful for horses, and
every farmer should insure it for this
reason. Farmers may learn things from
city people. If they go just now to a
large city they may find bundles of green
rye for sale at the stores for the noon
feeding of the horses employed on the
| streets. Few farmers are so thoughtful
OF their horses, and rarely put in piece
of rye in the fall for use in the spring.
But if a small plot of rye is appropriated
| to this use as it is large enough, and a
small quantity is given to the work
horses at noon, it will be of great use. 1t
is medicinal, and cools the blood heated
| by a winters dry grain feeding, and will
keep the skin in good working order.
Attention is given to the proper fitting
of the harness. See that the buckles do
not gall the the skin; if they do, fasten
shields of smooth leather to the straps
under the buckles. Wash the neck and
shoulders with a solution of alum and
salt, which hardens the skin and cures
gals. Keep the skin thoroughly well
brushed and free from scurf and dust.
"The righteous man is merciful to his
BEAST" and he will let his working ami
mails rest on the Sabbath Day. It is no
rest to horses to hitch them to carriage
and keep them on the road, or let the
hired man drive them out on pleasure
jaunts. The seventh days rest is as
necessary for the horses as for men.
BROOD MARES AND COLTS.
Brood mares near their foaling time
need no extra care or attention, except
ing to watch the spIinging of the udder.
If this is excessive and the mare in good
conditien the feed should be reduced at
once. No other farm animal needs less
attention at this time or to be let alone
more, and no other brings its young in
to the world more quietly and safely.
When the foal appears give the mare
drink of tepid water with fine oatmeal
and bran stirred in it. The third day
the regular food may be given and a
quart or two Of bran extra on account of
the colt. The mare should rest for two
weeks until the colt is strong enough to
follow her about. 1t is now that the
farmer who is wise enough to rear colt
or two every year finds the value of few
small grass lots, sown with orchard grass
for early pasture.
COWS AND CALVES.
The 1st of May is celebrated in Europ-
can countries as fete day, and the COWS
decked with flowers and bright ribbons,
and the dairy maids equally bedecked, go
| in procession with music to the meadow
| for the first time. No pasturing is per-
mitted until the grass has become verdant
under the effects of the April showers
and sunshine, and the COWS can get a full
bite We should take lesson from this.
Between hay and grass is critical time"
only for the half starved creatures which
will bloat themselves upon the usual
feed. A little provision of green rye will
easily bridge over this dreaded interval
and make things safe. Feed makes milk
and milk makes profit. No farmer or
dairyman can make his COWS profitable
without good feeding. The loosened coat
of the COWS should be carefully brushed
off lest it get into the milk. wire card
is very useful for this purpose, and a
brush puts on a neat finish. Why should
not the COWS be kept as sleek and clean
as the horses, even for the sake of ap-
pearance?
Calves should be kept growing from
| the start. They do not need cream.
Skinned milk warmed to 80 degrees will
rear as good calf as need be. A month
old calf should have an ounce or so of
oatmeal or fine bran every day. Care
fully gaurd the young things from two
common dangers, viz: vermln and over
feeding. Thrifty yearlings turned out to
grass are in danger from blackleg. To
avoid this always fatal disorder, give the
common mixture of sulphur. molasses
and cream tartar, every mornlng-one
tablespoonful at dose. For aiarrhea, a
pint of hot new milk, given every two
hours and no other food, will be immedi-
ately effective: but never give alum or other
astringents, which only makes matters
worse. Accustom the yearling helfers to
be handled as COWS are. Brush them and
handle the udder and teats and make them
acquainted with the duties which will
come upon them in time. 1t will save
world of trouble afterwards.
Working oxen should have places up
on a great many farms where now they
are despised because they are not handl-
ed properly. In training young steers,
! teach them nasty step anu steduIHooo
at pull. These are learned only by de-
grees, and by not giving them impossible
| tasks at the first. Confidence is gained
by success, and light tasks invariably
we'll performed lead up to heavier work.
Shoes should be used for oxen
working upon stony roads. In field work
these animals should be permitted to
rest full hour at noon, and their feed
ing should be finely ground feed, and
twice its weight only Of finely cut hay.
To permit of the needful rumination,
give them few minutes rest occasion
ally through the the day.
| SWINE.
| "A hog must root or die" This is true